Dr. Thompson on his inspiration for becoming a physician and his motivation to work with cancer patients:
“I’m the first in my family to become a physician. I come from three consecutive generations of judges. However, to be a judge you must first become a lawyer. To be a lawyer, you have to enjoy arguing. I’ve never loved to argue. I’ve always loved science. My next-door neighbor, Tom Moore, a pediatrician, was someone I always admired. He demonstrated that you could throw yourself into the science and yet not dehumanize yourself through the science. He maintained close relationships with patients and family. Though he worked exceedingly hard, I could tell that he derived a great deal of satisfaction in caring for his patients.
Essentially, I loved every rotation I did in medical school. However, I always enjoyed working with my hands. Therefore, surgery is a natural. Oncology to me is the last medical frontier. Surgical oncology blends the ability to render a patient cancer free in the course of a morning or afternoon, but also the recognition that you truly have to work with your colleagues such as medical oncologists and radiation therapists to cure the patient. It is truly a team effort. My time in team sports certainly makes me appreciate the teamwork required.
No two patients are the same, and no two cancers are the same. However, my love for my patients is always the same. It is an honor to care for them. They are family.”
Specialization
Located At
Brookwood Women’s Center
Grandview
Grandview Physician’s Plaza
Length of Tenure with Alabama Oncology
Joined October, 2014
Board Certifications
American Board of Surgery, 1995
Education
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL
Surgery Residency, Cornell University Medical College, New York, NY
Rotating Surgery Residency, Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
Research Fellowship, Cornell University Medical College, New York, NY
Fellowship in Surgical Oncology, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Accomplishments
Phi Beta Kappa, University of Alabama (1982)
Septima Smith Award "Most Outstanding Senior in Biology", University of Alabama (1983)
Alpha Omega Alpha, University of Alabama School of Medicine (1986)
Sarah F. Davis Award-Voted by Classmates as "Best All Around Senior", University of Alabama School of Medicine (1987)
Achievement Award for Outstanding Clinical Performance, University of Alabama School of Medicine (1987)
American Cancer Society Clinical Oncology Fellowship, Cornell University Medical College (1991)
Surgical Infection Society-Resident Research Award, Cornell University Medical College (1993)
Administrative Chief Resident, Cornell University Medical College (1994)
Head of Quality Assurance Department of Surgery, Baptist Medical Center Montclair, (1999-2002)
Breast Ultrasound Certified, American Society of Breast Surgeons
Outstanding Teacher in Surgery, Baptist Medical Center Montclair (1998-1999, 2005-2007)
Chairman of Cancer Committee, Baptist Medical Center Montclair (1998-2001)
Cancer Liaison Program Physician, Baptist Medical Center Montclair (1999-2002)
Chairman Department of Surgery, Trinity Medical Center (2006-2007)
Professional Associations
Society of Surgical Oncology
American College of Surgeons
American Cancer Society
American Medical Association
Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract
American Society of Breast Surgery